Stem cells are cells that have the capacity to subdivide into other cells. They have been found to exist in adults as well as in embryos. In embryos, stem cells function to develop into new organs and tissues while in adults, they function to replace worn out cells such as skin cells. Studies have shown that stem cells have been found in adult organs such as the liver, the kidney and the bone marrow (Murray, 2007).
The discovery of the stem cells and the latest developments on the subject has been received with mixed reactions. There has risen a debate has extended to discussions in the Senate. Scientists insist that more discoveries on this area of medicine have the potential to deal with the most serious of human diseases such as cancer. Some damaged tissues can also be repaired if more research is allowed done in this field of study.
Scientific studies have traced human development from conception to adulthood. Embryonic stem cells form the basis upon which all body organs are formed. These cells have the capacity to develop into any cell in the human body and perform the functions as are performed by those cells. This means that a stem cell can develop into a brain cell to perform the function of a brain cell. The process by which stem cells develop into other cells with special functionalities is known as differentiation (Ho et al, 2006).
This development is what scientists are pursuing to suggest that some diseased tissues or organs can be repaired in a field of study known as regenerative medicine. It has been suggested that if stem cells are identified and the right conditions found for them to develop into specific cells, thy can be used to develop cells to from certain tissues which would help cure fatal diseases. In adults, stem cells are found to generate replacements for cells that wear out with time.
Stem cells have some distinct properties that distinguish them from all other cells in the body. First, they are unspecialized. They lack any tissue specific structures that enable them to perform specific functions. On their own, they cannot perform any function in the human body. A stem cell cannot for example perform the function of a nerve cell since it lacks the structures that enable a nerve cell to perform its function. This property distinguishes these cells from other cells in that other cells have some defined structures and roles.
The second property of stem cells is that they can develop into specialized cells in the differentiation process. This process is controlled by both external and internal signals to determine the type of specialized cells that will result from the process. It has been found that adult cells develop into cell types of the tissue in which they are found. This means that blood cells can only be formed from stem cells found in the bone marrow. However, studies have also shown that some stem cells differentiate into specialized cells of a different type than the organs or place in the body in which they are found.
The third property that is descriptive of stem cells is their ability to divide and renew themselves over time. The resulting cells can be unspecialized or specialized. Stem cells have the capacity to differentiate asymmetrically into two, a specialized cell and a stem cell. This phenomenon has led scientists to study the stem cells with a view to gaining an in-depth understanding of what is comprised of these cells.
Scientists have some numerous important considerations to make in their studies on stem cells. The conditions under which stem cells develop into some specialized cells have to be known if this field of study will help in repairing some tissues. The role of the external environment in the development of stem cells into specific cells has to be known. This will enable scientists to know the environmental conditions they have to provide in their laboratory experiments. This should ultimately allow more understanding on what triggers the differentiation process. Such knowledge would be used to stimulate the stem cells to generate needed cells. Such knowledge could also explain the causes that trigger cancer. Also of interest is whether stem cells that are found in different organs can generate cells other than for the organ in which they are found. This may enable scientists to know how to induce stem cells in certain organs to generate needed specialized cells.
The developments on the embryonic stem cells have raised much controversy. These cells are derived from embryos developed from eggs fertilized in the laboratory, otherwise called in vitro fertilization. The difference with this type of fertilization and the natural one is that the former takes place in the laboratory while the other takes place in the womb. After five days, the stem cells that form the blastocyst, a mass of human embryonic stem cells, are excreted and used for scientific studies. It is not allowed to grow into a foetus and later a human life. This has been the subject of discussion on when a human’s life begins and whether the termination of such young life constitutes an abortion. These ethical questions have been brought to the fore by religious leaders majorly the Roman Catholics and Protestants. These groups continue to agitate that these ethical issues be sorted first before more advancement is done (Farley, 2001).
The advancement in knowledge in this stem cells field presents much benefit to human medicine. This area of biology will enable transplantation therapies in which specific cell types will be grown in culture and later transplanted in patients to perform specific functions. It also offers potential for lots of scientific information, which can be built upon to advance technology. Cell therapy would also be used for the treatment of some neural diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Stem cells could be used to repair damaged neurons (Murray, 2007). There are also possibilities that a treatment for AIDS could be found. Even brain and spinal cord diseases can be treated using stem cells knowledge.
The ethical issues raised led to the formulation of a regulatory framework to guard against misuse of this important area of study. According to the National Institute of Health, the federal policy restricts federal funding for research on stem cells to only those researches whose derivation process was initialized before 9th August 2001. Further, the embryo must have been created for reproductive purposes and that they were no longer needed. Also, consent must first be obtained for the donation of the embryo and that no financial inducements may be involved. The policy only concerns Federal funding, the policy is silent on privately funded research. This leaves room for private researchers to continue with a research regardless of the ethical standards set. It can in fact be stated that reproductive medicine is scantly regulated in the US.
On the international scale, there are no universally agreed upon rules that have been set to for nations to observe. There are only basic principles upon which ethical and other societal issues should be addressed. It is agreed that the society has to be well informed of the implications of current knowledge in stem cell biology (Kootrakoo, 2004). Complaints have been raised by the pioneers of this field of medicine on the role played by the media in distorting information. This would enable the society to deal with arising issues in a more informed way. It would also guide respective countries in developing local policies that satisfy dissenting views to an equal extent. Just like the US policy, consent has to be sought from the donors and the embryo must have been for research purposes for the stem cells to be extracted (Holland, 2001).
The human embryo stem cell research has much of its support from the scientists themselves. Because of their exposure to the numerous human complications, which they are at times unable to solve, the scientists see this area of research as offering an opportunity to explain the hardest of medical complications. And they do not blindly support the stem cells research, they admit that there are many issues not yet explained but with time and with good funding, solutions for some medical complications could be found. We could understand the position of the scientists since they are the ones who handle medical complications. Scientists are willing to dialogue with proponents to ensure they move along with the society and the opponents should also offer to listen (Laughlin, 2003).
The study on stem cells has given rise to many ethical issues. Nevertheless, the field offers much opportunity to explain some life threatening medical complications. Such development would be helpful to the entire human race because they will be better equipped to deal with diseases. I would encourage that more studies on the subject be carried out and that the ethical issues be addressed.
References
Farley, M. A. (2001) Roman Catholics view on Research involving Human Embryonic Stem Cells.
Ho., A. D., Hoffman, R. & Zanjani, E. D. (2006). Stem Cell Transplantation. Weinbeim: WILEY-VCH Publications.
Holland, S. & Lebacqz, K & Zoloth, L. (2001). The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics and Public Policy. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Kootrakoo, V. N. (2004). Contemporary Issues and Debates in EU Policy: The European Union and International Relations Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Laughlin, M. J. & Lazarus, H. M. (2003). Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Clinical Research and Practice. Totowa: Humana Press.
Murray, B. (2007). Understanding Stem Cell Biology. Web.
National Institutes of Health. (2007). Stem Cell Information. Web.